Friday, March 9, 2018

Chanel | NEW Rouge Coco Lip Blush Collection: Review and Swatches

New from Chanel for Spring 2018 comes an 18-piece collection expanding the Rouge Coco family. Consisting of a shade extension for the Rouge Coco Lipstick and Le Vernis nail colors, the Rouge Coco Collection introduces a brand new lip and cheek color called the Rouge Coco Lip Blush ($37 CAD). Available in six fresh, natural hues and touting a unique, hydrating gel texture, the duo-purpose colors are available now. To see some swatches and read my reviews of a few pieces from the collection, click......

Chanel | Rouge Coco Lip Blush

Chanel | Rouge Coco Lip Blush ($37 CAD):
Described as a sheer hydrating color designed for both the lips and cheeks, the Rouge Coco Lip Blush is a brand new product from Chanel. The packaging consists of a simple lip gloss tube almost identical to that of the Rouge Coco Gloss. The doe-foot applicator is tapered on both sides for an easy application.
Formulated with oils of jojoba, mimosa, and sunflower, the Rouge Coco Lip Blush has a lightweight cream-gel consistency that's non-sticky, and moisturizing.

Chanel | Rouge Coco Lip Blush

Pigmentation wise, these multi-use gel colors are sheer and application on the lips is very tricky. The formulation does not build well and the color appears extremely patchy and uneven. Therefore, these only work when lightly dabbed on the lips (using the fingertips) for a soft, blurred look. However, as someone who really likes a defined lip line, the blended tint on the lips doesn't really appeal to me. Additionally, because these colors do not stain, they wear off easily with eating and drinking.
On the cheeks, however, these perform quite differently. With a just few dabs, the Rouge Coco Lip Blush provides a natural, healthy flush to the cheeks. I had no issues with patchiness as the colors blend seamlessly (even over foundation and powder). In terms of wear, the colors also performed much better on the cheeks as there was only minimal fading by the end of the day.

Chanel | Rouge Coco Lip Blush

410 Corail Naturel: A soft orange-coral, this shade is very sheer. As compared to the other shades, "Corail Naturel" applies and layers well on the lips but the color is just a touch too light to be used as a blush on most skin tones.418 Rouge Captivant: A pretty bright red with a pink undertone, "Rouge Captivant" is sheer but buildable. It works okay as a subtle lip tint but the color does not build well. For the cheeks, the color provides a fresh and natural flush. It blends seamlessly for a glow-from-within effect. For the lip swatches below, I applied a full coat and then blotted and blended to get rid of the unevenness.420 Burning Berry: This is a dusty burgundy red. The formulation doesn't work well on the lips as the finish is extremely patchy, even when only a dab is applied. However, it works just fine on the cheeks to give a sophisticated sheer wine red tint. For the lip swatches below, I applied a full coat and then blotted and blended to get rid of the unevenness. As you can see, even with the blending, the finish is visibly patchy.

Chanel | Rouge Coco Lip Blush in "410 Corail Naturel"

Chanel | Rouge Coco Lip Blush in "418 Rouge Captivant"

Chanel | Rouge Coco Lip Blush in "420 Burning Berry"

Chanel | Rouge Coco Lipstick in "480 Corail Vibrant"

Chanel | Rouge Coco Lipstick in "480 Corail Vibrant" ($43 CAD):
Housed in the classic black and gold rectangular Chanel lipstick packaging, "480 Corail Vibrant" appears as a bright pink in the tube but is actually a light fresh pink with a semi-sheer finish. The color is buildable to a full coverage and texture is super slick and moisturizing. I love how the formulation feels plush and cushioning but the color does wear off quite easily with just light eating and drinking.

Chanel | Rouge Coco Lipstick in "480 Corail Vibrant"

Chanel | Le Vernis in "618 Brun Contraste" ($32 CAD | Limited Edition):
This is a deep chocolate brown. The formulation is sheerer than expected but two coats give a nice and even finish.

Chanel | Le Vernis in "618 Brun Contraste" | Two Coats with No Top Coat

Chanel | Le Vernis in "622 Violet Piquant" ($32 CAD):
An inky deep violet, "622 Violet Piquant" is surprisingly sheer. I'm actually quite a fan of darker polishes with a translucent finish but this one is unfortunately patchy. I needed three full coats to obtain an even, mostly opaque finish.

Chanel | Le Vernis in "622 Violet Piquant" | Three Coats with No Top Coat

The new Rouge Coco Lip Blush is undoubtly the star of this collection. The formulation really disappointed on the lips but if you love cream blushes, then these are just perfect! I think the Lip Blush name and the lip gloss packaging are somewhat misleading as the product is much more suited as a liquid cheek color. Had these been marketed and packaged as a liquid blush, they would have been much more appealing (at least to me). Nevertheless, if you are the kind of no-fuss, five minute and out the door kind of person, then this is a great cheek color!

Availability:
Chanel is available at all Chanel Beauty Counters and www.chanel.ca. The new Rouge Coco Collection is available as of March 2, 2018.